Native Voices at the Autry

Mission Statement

Native Voices at the Autry is devoted to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations playwrights.

History

Native Voices at the Autry is the country’s only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to producing new works by Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations playwrights. The company has been hailed by critics as “a virtual Who’s Who of American Indian theatre artists,” “a hotbed for contemporary Native theatre,” “deeply compelling,” and “a powerful and eloquent voice.”

Native Voices, which provides a supportive, collaborative setting for Native theatre artists from across North America, was founded in 1993 and became the resident theatre company at the Autry National Center in 1999. It is widely respected in both the Native American and theatre communities for its breakthrough plays and diverse programming, which highlight unique points of view within the more than 500 Native American nations in North America.

Deeply committed to developing new works by beginning, emerging, and established Native playwrights from across North America and seeing them fully realized, Native Voices has produced 19 critically acclaimed new plays, including 14 world premieres; 8 playwrights retreats; 18 new play festivals; and more than 150 workshops and public staged readings.

Native Voices is led by Founder/Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) and Founder/Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott. The company maintains successful long-term relationships with New York’s Public Theater, Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT), Washington’s Kennedy Center, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Montana Rep, and La Jolla Playhouse.

Native Voices at the Autry is a Constituent Theatre of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, LA Stage Alliance, and the Dramatists Guild.